“Everyone has kept asking me about it and, after much consideration, I’ve applied,” said Burley.

“And I’d have Terry Butcher working with me too. Just like me he’s got the club in his blood, lives in Suffolk, and is desperate to see better times.

“People might say I have been out of the game for a while, but I have lived in Ipswich for the last four years and been at virtually every home game so I understand the current mood and what is required going forwards.

“I’ve been working with the LMA (League Managers’ Association) and helping select manager of the month for the last few years. I’ve been watching more football than ever before.

“I know it is not an easy job. I know there will be financial restraints in a tough league. And I know people might want to see a new face. But I do feel I have all the credentials and that the glove fits.

12:33Dominic Shaw

You are BOATENG!

Phil’s been catching up with a couple of former Boro players.

A fine midfield pairing there.

12:32Dominic Shaw

Jokanovic's award 'boost'

It was a Fulham double with the April awards.

Slavisa Jokanovic beat Tony Pulis to the Manager of the Month award and Aleksandar Mitrovic got the nod over DANIEL Ayala for the player gong.

12:18Dominic Shaw

Who's next in at Sunderland?

Chris Wilder is the current favourites with the bookies to be the next man in charge at Sunderland.

Wilder sparked doubts over his Sheffield United future after last weekend’s defeat to Preston, threatening to leave the club if the ownership issue isn’t resolved in the near future.

He was asked about his future in a press conference this morning and admitted he doesn’t know what lies ahead.

He did reveal, however, that there’s been no approach from Sunderland at this stage.

Michael Appleton is currently second favourite with the bookies ahead of Mick McCarthy.

Chris Wilder (Image: PA)

11:38Dominic Shaw

Ipswich ran riot last time out

If anyone is likely to be ‘on the beach’ at this stage of the season it’s a team that are 13th in the league, have nowt to play for and don’t have a manager.

But Ipswich ran riot last time out.

11:24Dominic Shaw

Villa 'don't want to run out of gas' as potential Boro tie looms

It’s Millwall away for Villa this weekend.

A game which means very little in terms of league positions. Villa’s fourth place is secured.

With that in mind, Villa are likely to make a few changes, though EFL rules limit how many.

The key, says Colin Calderwood, is finding a balance. And not running out of gas in the play-offs.

On the face of it very little as the Blues head into the final day able to finish somewhere between 12th and 15th.

There is, however, the small matter of East Anglian bragging rights being up for grabs. If the Blues better Norwich City’s result at Sheffield Wednesday they will finish above their rivals in the pyramid for the first time since the Canaries were in League One (2009/10).

And don’t underestimate the importance of sending supporters away with a spring in their step either.

There’s currently a sense of renewed hope ahead of the appointment of a new manager. Season tickets sales for 2018/19 are up seven per cent compared to this time last year. It would be nice to keep the positive momentum going rather than finishing on a sour note.

Thoughts with Steve Bruce and his family

“If we get success that will most definitely be some sort of comfort for him,” said Calderwood.

“But it can’t replace what he’s really going through at the minute with what has happened with his parents.”

09:45Dominic Shaw

Play-off confirmation

Sure you read this yesterday but for those who didn’t the play-off dates and kick-off times were confirmed.

If Boro do finish fifth then it’s Aston Villa.

The first leg will be held at the Riverside on Saturday, May 12 (5.15pm) and the second leg at Villa Park on Tuesday, May 15 (7.45pm).

If Boro finish sixth the first leg will be at the Riverside on Friday, May 11 and the second leg on Monday, May 14. Both will be 7.45pm kick-off.

Riverside Stadium (Image: PA)

09:37Dominic Shaw

Today's back page: 'You've cost us dear'

If you missed it yesterday, the club published a strong statement on the back of the Millwall pitch invasion.

A snippet is below:

“Due to the behaviour of this small number of fans, the Football Association have asked the club to provide a detailed report on the incident and how we intend to prevent a recurrence. We are now faced with the costly measure of installing additional barriers which is not only an unplanned expense, but will undoubtedly restrict the free movement of the majority of fans who respect the stadium regulations.

“We are awaiting the response of the FA before establishing the full range of measures that we will have to implement but it is clear that any repeat of the incident at the Millwall game could have serious consequences.”